The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-22
THE MURDER TRIAL.
The Arguments Now in Progress
AND THE CASE WILL GO TO
THE JURY TOMORROW.
A Summary Of the Evidence.
What viii the Verdict Be!

II has been seldom in the history
of our town that the quiet and good
order Of the community have beer
broken by the crime of murder.
The murder of Emma Robinson
was one of the most unprovoked and
atrocious that has ever stained the
annals Of any community. Never
theless, il would appear from. the
best Interpretation of the evidence
which circumstances reveal, that
the demons who committed the deed
did not mean murder, but that il
was an incident (none the less helm
Gus and criminal, however, in the
accomplishment of other diabolical
purposes. That demon. whiskey, to
which almost every crime can be
traced, had so inhamed their pas
sions, and aroused the devil in them
that they were in a measure uncon-
scious of the degree of cruelty and
injury they were inficting upon
their victim. They intended to roh
her of the power of resistance and
probably did not then know that
they had also robbed her of life
Neither did they much care, proba-
bly,, that they had stained theil
hands with her blood, only for the
fact that it subjected them to 8
higher penalty than that they had
thought to incur if detected. The
murderers of Emma Robinson were
not restrained by any sentiments Of
humanity or troubled by any com
Functions of conscience. The only
fear they have is of the halter which
the law would put around theil
necks.
The three parties who have beer
indicted for the crime have severed
in their defense,-that is they elect
to be tried separately-and the whole
week has been spent in the trial ot
MADEIRA. As the case is one Of pecu
liar local interest, we present to oul
readers full report Of the testimony
up to the time of going to press, and
we leave each reader to determine
for himself the weight and effect OF
the evidence.
The prisoners chose to sever in
their defense, and the State finally
concluded to prosecute MADEIRA first
The trial began Wednesday, Keck
q Son and Frank Cox for the State
and Thos. III. B. Staggers and Clar.
ence B. Ollie for the defense. The
first witness called for the State was
Mrs. Alice Thompson, who testified
as follows:
Live at my home in West Morgan
town, which is about three times as
far as across this court room from
the house of the murdered woman,
in this county. She moved there
the previous November. She was
living alone, and her house was on
the public road. Her house had in
it two rooms-one bed room and one
kitchen. One outside door; entrance
to kitchen. Had not been there but
twice; she was sick then. l dom
know about the lock ON the door
Emma had worked for me all the
day, the night of which she was
murdered. She had left my house
at early lamp-lighting. She came
back to my house. She had her
working clothes on when she went
to her house the first time; when she
came back she had on another dress
She then went to the city bakery. Did
not see her after that. that night
My husband was up the river with
trot line. ! noticed the clock strike
10 o'clock when he came home. All
was then quiet. He took lunch. He
retired in Is or 20 minutes. He laid
down on bed with his pipe to take q
smoke. Heard dogs barking in di-
rection of Emma Robinson's house
Twas 1890 heard dogs making fuss
My husband made several attempts
to get up, but l insisted he should
lie still, as ! thought twas boys
Twas a very doleful sound, as some
one holding his breath. Twas a
dismal sound as il some one in dis
tress. These sounds came from in
front of her door. Dog barked as il
he had hold of some one. Heard
peculiar noise twice. Could not tell
length of time noises lasted; sounded
instantly. Did not hear any more
noise over at the house. Cannot de-
scribe noise any palmer than l have
She had promised to be back to work
for me the next day. l went up te
see her. I found the door ajar
Probably far enough to admit a
small mans arm. Door was held by
a piece of carpet. When first went
/ knocked on the door. She did not
answer. l gave the door a push
and peeped in and saw her lying
there. l turned around and saw
Edgar MILAN and told him to go fol
the doctor; that she was either dead
or dying. l called Jennie Holland
and she came. We pushed the door
then / reached down behind the
door, pulled away the carpet and
the door opened. Her feet were
about one foot from door. Her hea6
back from door. Her clothing was
torn nearly off her. Her dress sleeve
nearly off. Her dress and under
clothing rolled up to her waist. Hel
drawers were torn off her and lai6
down by her side. One drawer leg
was torn off. / did not see the 9th
er. Her drawer band was torn il
two. Her person was exposed. Was
exposed from the waist down. An
speaking of her as | saw her before
the physicians came. Before they
came Mrs. Reed and / took a bee
spread and put it over her. Noticed
knot on her face above the RICH
eye. Also bruises on left face, ca
and neck. Also bruises on her Ell
bows, back and heels. When tn,